Events across San Diego discussing the book and the topic of science and ethics are being sponsored by The Center for Ethics in Science and Technology and include an educational alliance between PLNU, San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, CSU San Marcus, Grossmont College, UC San Diego, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

In addition to Gates' lecture, Dr. Mark Mann, director of the Wesleyan Center at PLNU, will host a panel discussion about religious views of death and immortality in April. Dr. Skip Rutledge, the coach of PLNU's forensics program, is hosting a regional debate at PLNU focusing on the book and the issues it raises. Many classes and reading groups at PLNU are participating in the discussion of the book, as well.

Dr. Kathryn McConnell has agreed to accept the role of Dean of Arts and Sciences, after serving as interim dean for the past year.

McConnell joined PLNU in 1979 as a professor of Spanish, eventually serving as chair of the Department of Literature, Journalism and Modern Languages. She has also served on the executive board of the North American Foreign Language Association (NACFLA).

McConnell has spent the bulk of her time at PLNU guiding students in the Spanish language, literature, and culture. She has traveled extensively in Spanish speaking countries, principally in Spain, where she has conducted research in Madrid’s major libraries: the Hemeroteca Nacional and Municipal, the Prado library, Biblioteca Nacional, Filmoteca Nacional, and the Biblioteca José Ortega y Gasset. She has also been a visiting professor in Baoding, China where she lectured on film theory and language proficiency.

In making the announcement, Kerry Fulcher, PLNU’s provost and chief academic officer, said, “Kathy’s diverse set of experiences as a faculty member, department chair, faculty council member, membership on several major committees and her many years of service to the university have made her an invaluable member of the academic leadership team. I can think of no other person I would rather have in this role at this key time in the life of our university.”

On May 14, PLNU celebrated the accomplishments of 565 undergraduate and 259 graduate students at Commencement. During the convocation ceremonies, 23 seniors were recognized for completing honors projects. In addition, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree was awarded to David Latter. Latter became president of Morehouse Foods in 1969, and he has guided the company to its current position as a multi-million dollar international business, specializing in mustard and horseradish. Latter has an undergraduate degree from PLNU.

Luke Harmon, a 2010 business administration graduate from PLNU, was named the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Fermanian School of Business (FSB) at Point Loma Nazarene University. Harmon was one of five finalists in the FSB’s Entrepreneur Enrichment Program (EEP).

“Thank you so much for providing a platform for me to work on this project,” said Harmon. “This experience has been incredibly challenging but at the same time amazing, and I have loved every second of it!”

Following a nearly yearlong process that began with the annual EEP Exposition and “pitch” last September, five student entrepreneurial ventures received mentoring throughout the 2010-11 academic year while developing a detailed business plan. There were three experienced entrepreneurial mentors for each venture from a wide variety of business interests throughout the western U.S. The mentors also served as judges for the plans. The plans were completed and submitted by April 15, 2011. The judges then had two weeks to review the plans on a secure online site.

“In the past year, I have dove fully into eHipp,” said Harmon. “I have read books and articles, interviewed physicians, nurses, and medical students, attended classes and conferences, job shadowed venture capitalists, and met with recognized leaders and thinkers of medical innovation. Through this process, I have felt like it was up to me to find a place where this software could work and succeed. You will see from the business plan that I believe I have done that.”

Randy M. Ataide, the EEP advisor and PLNU professor of entrepreneurship said, “Each year presents a different variety of projects and entrepreneurial interests, and this year was no exception. What stands out in this year’s program was the dedication of most of the entrepreneurs to maximize the opportunity to be mentored.”

The FSB announced Harmon’s award at a banquet attended by approximately 85 entrepreneurs, mentors, students, and supporters on Wednesday evening, April 27, 2011.

Harmon earned a total of $3,000 in funding from the EEP Endowment towards supporting his entrepreneurial endeavors, and was mentored by Stephen Thesing, Robert Harp and Bart Grunau, all experienced EEP mentors.

Other honorees included brothers Derek Jackson, a senior double major at PLNU in business administration and music, joined by his brother Marcus Jackson, a PLNU business administration alumni from 2007, for their project Forte Gigs, a musician promotion and management company for student musicians, who earned an additional $1,500 from the EEP Endowment as well as winning the Dave and Dorothy Latter Free Enterprise Award. PLNU MBA John Cosby earned $1,500 from the endowment as well as nabbing the Social Entrepreneur Award of another $200 for his project, BorderTraffic.com.

The other completed projects were by Carl Gardner, a 2010 business administration graduate, who created Gardner BioFuels and Reid Sund, a 2010 accounting graduate, who developed Care Connection. All participating projects that completed the EEP received $500 each, and additional projects were announced for the 2011-12 EEP.

Craig Van Hulzen, CEO of Van Hulzen Asset Management in Jackson, Ca., and a co-founder of the EEP and the EEP Endowment, stated “ While not a year of large numbers in the EEP, the quality of the completed plans is the best by far in the history of the EEP. It reflects the evolving nature of the EEP and the rising expectations of quality among the participants.”

Wednesday is the 2010-2011 Entrepreneur Enrichment Program Banquet. The Entrepreneur Enrichment Program (EEP) seeks to encourage, stimulate, and nourish the entrepreneurial process in any full or part-time student and in all academic disciplines at PLNU by providing specific personal, business, and professional counsel for student-entrepreneurs' business plans from recognized industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and financiers.

This year's participants displayed their ideas at the expo on October 6 in the School of Business. Following the expo they each gave a three-minute pitch to the business review team who judged their projects. The finalists have been announced and have been paired with mentors to assist the students in developing a solid business plan for their specific project. Winners will be announced at the EEP Banquet.